It seems like this cold and flu season is off to a particularly aggressive start! Here are some things that we can all do to strengthen our immune systems. *When the sun is shining, soak it up. *Stay active. *Limit sugar and processed foods in your diet. *Stay hydrated. *Get lots of rest. Prioritize sleep more than ever. *Get the flu shot. If you do get sick, contact your pharmacist. They are equipped with the advice you need to feel better as soon as possible. They can recommend over-the-counter remedies for your symptoms and ensure they don’t interact with your other medications.
Community News
A Really Useful Gift
At Christmas time, it can be hard to find a suitable gift for elderly loved ones. This year, give them and yourself the feeling of security while honoring their request to age in place. Installing a medical alarm system in their home can increase their independence and reduce the risks of living alone or being left alone in their home. With a locally monitored system, they may be able to remain in their own home. You can be comforted by the fact that if something should happen, help is just a button push away.
Thank You & Happy Holidays
As another year draws to a close, we give thanks for the many blessings that we have received. We hosted our Women’s Wellness Expo once again after a two-and-a-half-year pause and look forward to hosting another Expo in February. We continue to publish this newsletter, along with four additional local ones here on the island, and continue to grow the WellnessHub, our local online resource. We thank our advertisers, readers, subscribers, distributors and community partners for helping us to continue to spread the wellness message. We wish everyone Peace, Happiness and Good Health this Holiday Season.
Focus on the Good Moments
As 2022 comes to an end, and we reflect on all that has happened, it is important to take note and remember the good moments along the way. With the challenges of the global pandemic and other external stressors that occurred through the year, it can be easy to forget those moments of joy and connection that were experienced. With the holiday season approaching, take a moment to remember those good moments, and reach out to share those memories with those you were with. Choose to focus on the good moments and share that with others.
Are You Taking Good Enough Care Of Your …?
The liver doesn’t get enough attention when it comes to our health and vitality. The health of your liver impacts most of the organs in your body. At any given moment, it holds over 10% of your body’s blood supply and, depending on its health, it filters roughly 1.5 liters of blood per minute. It stores our primary energy source (glycogen) and many vitamins. It is also a major detoxification organ (mycotoxins, chemicals, heavy metals…) and helps maintain a healthy hormone balance. Come for a Bio-Well Scan to check areas of stress and energetic imbalance in your body.
Stages to Make your Goals
I was talking to my massage therapist and this came up in conversation – it’s fascinating. All goals have five stages, this is called the Transtheoretical model. It’s actually six stages but the last stage is one that is rarely met in most habit-forming changes. The “termination” stage signifies the end of the maintenance stage. When it comes to health, the maintenance phase is where we aim to be long-term, and possibly even circling back to pre-contemplation and contemplation to start a new goal. Health is not really something we “finish” it’s something we are always working towards and improving on.
Profile: Jennifer Baker, Epicure
My journey with Epicure started when I went chemical free. I realized that what we put on and in our bodies is the key to a healthier life. When I was introduced to Epicure, I did my research. Epicure was started in 1997 by a dynamic mother/daughter team right here on Vancouver Island. They wanted to help struggling families of all sizes get healthy, clean food on the table affordably and quickly. Epicure products are gluten and nut-free, sugar and salt conscious and contain no fillers. Everything aligned for me – I love using and selling Epicure products.
Remembrance Day Service
Our Veterans should never be forgotten. Honour them at this Service of Reflection on Friday, November 11th, 2022 from 1 pm to 3 pm at Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens, 2347 Cedar Road, Cedar. Veterans and The Royal Canadian Legion will be present. Special remarks will take place at 2pm. Light refreshments will be available. Everyone is welcome to this free community event. For more information call: (250) 722-2244. Remembrance Day ceremonies allow us to reflect and take a few moments out of our lives to say thank you to those who risked theirs and made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedom.
Healthy Play Guidelines
As we head into the holiday season and emerge from Covid restrictions, our gambling habits may have been stretched beyond our usual boundaries. Gambling or sports betting to make money is always dangerous, as is gambling to escape our day-to-day preoccupations. If you are not sure if your gambling habits fall within healthy playing guidelines, check Canada’s Low-Risk Gambling Guidelines at GamblingGuideLines.ca. Using the 1-4-2 formula can help contextualize your play: No more than 1% of your income, a Maximum of 4 days per month and Only 2 types of gameplay. If you’re unsure, check out the self-assessment tool.
Are You Prepared for Flu Season?
Your pharmacist is the best person to help you be prepared for flu season. Here are three reasons to discuss the flu with your pharmacist. 1)They can answer all your questions about the flu shot and administer it in the pharmacy. 2)They know the flu virus can hit hard and they are equipped with the advice you need to feel better as soon as possible. 3)They can recommend over-the-counter remedies for your symptoms and ensure they don’t interact with your other medications. Book your flu shot today!
As Winter Comes
Most everyone on the West Coast knows, November brings with it more rain and overcast skies. Many people experience an effect on their mood during this time, which can certainly make things more difficult. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a known phenomenon, where the winter weather affects moods and outlook on life. A couple strategies to help overcome these “winter blues” is to continue with those all-important self-care strategies of enjoyable activities, and the regular use of a full-spectrum light of some sort throughout your day! Fight back against the dreary with light!
